Some of you will have known Mike Cobb, whether through his referee evaluations, education at the USA ‘Camps with Promise’ programs and as the USA Technical Director for Match Officials or maybe in his capacity as the USA Rugby Referee Eastern Zone Manager. It is with great sadness that I must announce that Mike was killed over the weekend in a traffic road accident in Thailand while supporting a rugby tour. Mike was a good friend of mine as we both sat on the National Performance Reviewer group and probably one of the funniest people I have met. Always cheerful and willing to poke fun at himself as well as the next person. A room mate and confident over the years. I hope he is already causing bloody hell in heaven making demands and generally shaking things up. Farewell My Friend!!

As a community who loves the game and want it to continue to grow and be successful in the USA, it is our combined responsibility to adhere to the principles and spirit of the game. To protect these principles, we feel it is in the best interest of the game that, moving forward, we employ the following approach:

Match Officials abuse/dissent by Players on the field, individual or team:

First occasion, Penalty Kick or Penalty Kick 10m forward;

Second occasion, Penalty Kick & Yellow Card

Third occasion, Penalty Kick & Red Card

Match Officials abuse/dissent by Coaches, Team Staff and Substitutes on the sidelines:

These changes are effective immediately within the Northern Hemisphere.

Law 3 – Number of Players

3.5, which addresses the number of players who are capable of playing in the front row, and how their number affects the total number of players a team may use has been re-written for better clarity with no substantive changes. The part of this section which covers uncontested scrums has been split and now is a separate section (3.6). All the subsequent sections have been re-numbered.

3.12, which covers substituted players rejoining the match (now re-numbered to 3.14) has had one additional condition added. In addition to front row replacement, blood injury replacement and (in Elite games with WR permission) temporary replacement for Head Injury Assessment, a substituted player may be used to replace a player who was injured as a result of Foul Play (as verified by the Match Officials).

Law 4 – Player Clothing (Clarification)

Player jerseys must have sleeves that extend at least half way from the point of the shoulder to the elbow.

Law 5 – Time (Clarification)

In the last year there were a couple of Clarifications regarding what happens when there is a score very close to the end of the half or the game. Those have been incorporated into Law [5.7 (g) and (h)]. In essence, if the the conversion kick is taken (or the try awarded and the team chooses not to take the conversion per 9.B.2) before time expires, the next restart will happen even if time expires between the kick and when the players are prepared to restart. And, if a restart is taken under these circumstances with time expired, and the kick is taken incorrectly (e.g. not ten, etc.), the referee will offer the options in Law 13.

Law 6 – The Referee’s Authority

6.C, which covers persons coming onto the pitch to treat injured players has been re-written to make distinction between qualified and unqualified medical staff. Sub-sections 2 and 3 have been combined into one.

Law 8 – Advantage

The section listing situations where advantage cannot be played (8.3) has seen collapsed scrums removed. The referee now has the option of playing advantage if he feels players are not endangered. The referee DOES NOT have the option of playing advantage if the front row is lifted.

Law 9 – Scoring

In the 7s Variations, the time the kicker has to take the conversion after a try is now thirty seconds from the time the try is awarded.

Law 10 – Foul Play

Unfair Play – 10.2. A new provision has been added. “A player must not commit any act that may lead the match officials to consider that that player was subject to foul play or any other type of infringement committed by an opponent.” Penalty Kick.

Section 10.3 (b) – Repeated Infringements. The last sentence has been removed. The referee is no longer constrained in how a second repeat offender is handled.

Law 12 – Throw Forward

The definition has been slightly re-written for clarity with regard to “towards the dead ball line.”

The definition has also been augmented to include the Clarifications regarding balls being knocked or ripped out of the ball carrier’s hands by a defender.

Law 17 – Maul

This isn’t a Law change, but rather some guidance on the application. The ball in a maul may be moved backwards hand-to-hand. A player is not allowed to move/slide to the back of the maul when that player is in possession of the ball.

Law 19 – Lineout

19.4 (b), which addresses the ball being knocked-on into touch has been revised to also include thrown-forward into touch (which was already part of 12.1). (Clarification)

The section addressing blocking the throw-in has been re-written so that it applies to all players (not just lineout players). 19.10 (h)

Law 20 – Scrum

There is now a specific time on the “no delay in forming a scrum”. Free kick after thirty seconds. 20.1 (d)

Front rows coming together has been slightly re-written to require the players be “ear to ear”. 20.1 (f)

Ending the scrum now includes a “use it” provision once the ball is at the last player’s feet and is not moving forward. 20.10 (d)

A scrum that has wheeled past 180 is no longer a turnover. The original team throws in again. 20.11 (b)

The scrum half of the team not in possession must now stay out of the pocket.
20.12 (c)

Law 21 – Penalty and Free Kicks

All penalty and free kicks that are awarded close to the goal line are to be given five meters out, regardless of the team (no longer just the attacking team’s penalties).
21.2 (a)

The Future of Rugby Refereeing: PART THREE

PART THREE – New Laws or Better Application?

The great thing about rugby is that it is forever changing. We are always growing, making better decisions and discovering new solutions. This is true for players, coaches, referees and administrators. Everyone.

As referees, we are often confronted from all angles. It makes it not so easy to always be confident and motivated. The key is listening. If you know how to listen, you may understand others’ perspectives and not become a victim of their thoughts. It’s all in your attitude. Identify the good bits and add it to your development and goals.

What we are here to talk about today,is a greater solution for the game.

Under no circumstances are team coaches allowed to approach the referee at half-time.

If they do, you ask them to convey all questions through their captain, but you absolutely do not discuss anything with the coach at half-time. If the coach persists the referee will EJECT the coach from the grounds. Zero tolerance approach should be applied and if the person refuses to leave the referee should request that team’s captain to assist. Failing compliance the referee may abandon the match.

After reviewing many matches this week, it is great to see that some referees are steadily improving and stepping up.

Refereeing is an ongoing learning process, and here are a few areas that have been identified where we can improve:

Rewarding dominance: A legally dominant scrum should be rewarded. This can have a huge affect on the outcome of a game if you eliminate a legally dominant scrum.

Setting Standards vs Materiality: When establishing behavior early in the match, be certain that it is for infringements that have a material effect. Calling infringements that are too small to be of consequence sets standards that players are unable to attain or understand.

Empathy: You’re constantly building trust and respect in the game. However, if you engage players early in the match with warnings and discussions, you open the door for constant debate, which blurs the lines of your expectations and diminishes your opportunity to Set Standards. Keeping it simple, making clear calls and minimizing communication allow you to influence the game and player behavior without it being about you.